argghhh...what would you do
 

I have been working on a scrappy using 2" squares. Its been a work in progress for more than a year. I sewed strips that are 8x48 squares..the problem is that I've gotten better at 1/4 inch seams and my most recent strips are a different size than the older ones. The quilt is for me but I csnt decide how I should finish it.

You have a couple of options short of ripping out everything :) . I think which you choose depends on what you want the quilt for. If it's intended as an heirloom or showpiece, I'd explore #1 below. If it's for color, beauty, and keeping you warm, #2 or #3.

1. See how far off you are between the older and the newer. If just a smidge, you could, take out and adjust one or two seams only on the short (or long) strips to make them almost-match.

2. Snip the ends of the long strips or add a little piece to the ends of the short ones.

3. Add a little piece in the middle (or at some random point) to the short ones.

For #2 or #3, you wouldn't worry about matching seams all the way across. Scrappy quilts are allowed to be scrappy and not match!

toolazy's reply is very good advise.

I just thought of something else that I did. I put a narrow border between the strips that were all the same and then used the uneven strips as a 'border'. You can add the borders at the top and bottom like I did or make some more and add them to the sides. Looked like it was meant to be that way.

I like pollyjvan9's suggestion. Sash between rows. it will look like you designed the quilt this way.

Or cut .5, 1 and 1.5 inches off the first square on random strips so that the seams won't match, but it will look planned. After sewing the strips together, you'll have to even up the uncut end.

Thanks guys (gals). I had planned on tying it instead of machine quilting it. I think that option 3 is going to work best for me. Its what I was thinking but wanted someone to tell me I wasnt nutty!

I'd use your 8 x 48 (divide the width in 1/2, and add on to bottom) in the back of the quilt. Take it apart and use a 4 x 96 as something that breaks up the fabric on the back! Good luck!

Onto tying quilts. I've tyed a quilt. It was a beginner where seams were a little off. It took a lot longer than I expected. It wasn't stable enough and with a lot of use and washing, the seams came apart.
I'd suggest using this quilt as an opportunity to do some machine quilting, something very simple, maybe straight lines across and verticle across the quilt, not SID.

Can we see it when you're done? I love to see what people do with scrappy things. :)

Look at Elise1's post yesterday "last 4 quilts finished". She made one with offset squares. It looks great!

Can you off set the blocks? I am not sure if that is the right term. What I mean is that instead of matching seams, just line them up like a brick wall where the seams are staggered.

I would definitely finish it and use it with pride - after all, think of how much you have learned and the expertise you have gained! And a lot of times the quilt that I made that is not "perfect" turns into a favorite quilt because I REALLY use it!

Several years ago I started a kaliedoscope quilt. I had half of them done and it became a UFO. Last year I decided to complet the quilt and may seams were more accurate. The first ones were a little smaller. I put shashing between the blocks and the smaller ones became the top and bottom rows. Only if someone measures the blocks will they be able to tell that they are different sizes.

Isn't it wonderful! Someone else has already been there and don that. More importantly, they are ready to share their experiences and solutions.

with strips, a simple thing is to offset them so they don't need to line up at all, putting a sashing strip between every 8 of your 8x48 layout

2 different seams ! make 2 quilts instead of one !!!! I did !!
 

2 different seams sizes ? Make 2 quilts I did !!!!

Love this idea.

Regarding tying a quilt: my sister told me to use the stitch on my machine that is used to sew on buttons. It ties the quilt very nicely. The two kids' quilts I did that way are still being used all the time and the tying has not failed. I'm guessing that you will have to tie them closely. Can't remember the distance between each tie that I did. My grandsons love the quilts and use them all the time. They've had them about 8 years now.

I just saw a quilt with white sashings but each row was set off from the one above. you could do that by making every other row shorter or longer by adding 1/2 block. then no vertical seams to match up at all. have fun!